The most diverse, intellectually bracing show on network news was treated as expendable, and its host would not have it. She and her show will be sorely missed.

February 29, 2016

This weekend, a show that mattered to its audience as few programs on the vanilla ice-milk buffet that passes for news do, The Melissa Harris-Perry Show on MSNBC, was canceled, and it’s a tragic as well as angering turn of events. “Ties were severed,” as an MSNBC executive put it, after Melissa, who I am proud to count as a colleague, sent an email to her staff explaining why she would not be hosting her show this past weekend after several weeks of having the program pre-empted for election coverage. The “scorching” email, now public, is being cherry-picked in articles, particularly the part where Melissa wrote, “I will not be used as a tool for their purposes. I am not a token, mammy, or little brown bobble head.”

I want to encourage people to read it in its entirety, because that one section does not do justice to what she is trying to communicate. The part that stands out to me is when she writes,

MSNBC would like me to appear for four inconsequential hours to read news that they deem relevant without returning to our team any of the editorial control and authority that makes MHP Show distinctive. While MSNBC may believe that I am worthless, I know better. I know who I am. I know why MHP Show is unique and valuable. I will not sell short myself or this show. I am not hungry for empty airtime. I care only about substantive, meaningful, and autonomous work. When we can do that, I will return—not a moment earlier. I am deeply sorry for the ways that this decision makes life harder for all of you. You mean more to me than you can imagine.

Instead of responding to these concerns, network executives chose to simply kill the show, citing the email as “destructive to our relationship.” A nameless exec, speaking to The Washington Post, called her a “challenging and unpredictable personality.” It is certainly true that Melissa fought for her vision of what she wanted the show to be, but it is difficult to imagine that a white, male host would be attacked so personally and called “challenging and unpredictable” for exhibiting similar behavior. It also speaks volumes that such adjectives—“challenging,” “unpredictable”—would be seen as insults in the modern news media world, instead of high praise.

I suppose “challenging and unpredictable” mean decisions like the one she made for what we now know was her final show: a show based around the treatment of homeless people in San Francisco during Super Bowl week and the impact of Beyoncé’s “Formation” video, instead of ever more election analysis with campaign spinmeisters. MHP was the only show to discuss what the possible ramifications could be for Beyoncé if she performed the incendiary song later that day at Super Bowl halftime. It, of course, has caused a firestorm that has yet to die down. Melissa saw it coming. That, in a nutshell, was what made the show so distinctive. Because it discussed issues that other shows would not touch, with guests other shows would never dream of booking, it was able to see and often predict what they simply could not. (For what it’s worth, I was on that last show, a fact that I’ll wear going forward as a badge of honor.)

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It would be difficult for me to fully express how upset I am. I’m upset because the staff on the show are some of the kindest people I’ve had the privilege to meet in an industry where the word “kind” is not often bandied about. I’m upset because I’ve met so many of these media anchors, and for a lot of them, the smile dissipates once the camera is turned off. Melissa was so warm off the air…to my mom, to my partner, to the very people other hosts breeze by.

I’m upset because the viewers of the show—the #nerdland community—felt like it was truly their space on network television. I can’t tell you how many times people have approached me or have come to events where I was speaking because they saw themselves—and by extension, me—as part of the #nerdland family. They were overwhelmingly black women; women who felt ownership of a show on which they and their concerns weren’t rendered invisible.

But most of all, I’m upset because of the voices that will not be heard. A Media Matters graph about diversity on weekend news shows reported that guests on Fox were 87 percent white; CBS’s Face the Nation were 88 percent white, This Week on ABC were 77 percent white, NBC’s Meet the Press were 78 percent white, and on MHP, 45 percent white. It was also the only show even close to a 50-50 split on gender. But MHP also wasn’t diversity for diversity’s sake. This was a show that introduced us to community leaders, academics, small-town politicians, and musicians who otherwise never would have seen the light of day.

And, speaking very selfishly, I was given a platform by Melissa to speak about sports and society in a way that centered on race, class, gender, sexuality, and big business. It was the only place where I was allowed—on Super Bowl Sunday no less—to write out a scripted commentary I could deliver on camera that called for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to resign. Being a guest on MHP was always “challenging,” always “unpredictable,” and I use those adjectives as the highest praise.

Melissa will be fine. She heads the Anna Julia Cooper Center and holds the Maya Angelou Chair at Wake Forest, where she lives with her beautiful family. She’ll be back on television when she wants to be, if she wants to be. I’m worried about the rest of us and a media landscape that is now less diverse, less interesting, and less accessible to masses of people in this country. But I want to thank Melissa Harris-Perry and everyone at MHP for showing us that another kind of network television news show was possible. I want to thank her for standing up, not for herself but for the show. I want to thank her for pushing the boundaries, even when those boundaries became walls. I’m excited to see what she does next, and also excited for the people inspired by her work, to step up and show us what they got. The #nerdland community will exist beyond MHP and will continue to inspire those trying to find their voice as well as anger all the right people.

Sorry, Melissa. This is a show we will very much miss.
This is one of the few shows on TV that I have continuously taped to see as many episodes as I could. I look forward to seeing you host another show in the future.

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Ailene Cusacksays:

March 2, 2016 at 3:10 pm

I have been watching MSNBC for a very long time and have watched my reasons for tuning in slowly disappear. With Melissa Harris-Perry gone there's not much left for me to watch. Maybe Lawrence O'Donnell but that's about it. What a shame. MHP, you will be greatly missed.

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Robert Ryleysays:

March 1, 2016 at 6:00 pm

For once I must say I agree with Dave Zirin. Good article basically "nails it" when it comes to the shoddy low-rent way MSNBC treated Melissa. But, I think we all know MHP is a fighter and she will land somewhere and keep up the good fight.

As to MSNBC, this has turned into the MainStreamNationalBullS###Collective. With Todd, reruns of Halpern and loudmouth bloviator Chris Matthews insulting our intelligence at ever turn it is basically a useless network until 8pm. And even then, Chris Hayes is not as edgy as he used to be and quite often Rachel plays kiss-up to the likes of Republican Nicole Wallace. It's a shame, MHP, Sharpton, Schultz, Olberman, Joy Reed, Alex Wagner, and more, all sidelined, fired, or general visibility cut back for mainstream corporate dribble.

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Bill Michtomsays:

March 1, 2016 at 12:23 am

These are the same people who fired Phil Donahue for speaking out against W's approaching criminal war in . Iraq .

"In 2002, Donahue returned to the airwaves, but was fired by MSNBC on the eve of the 2003 U.S.-led war in Iraq because he was allowing antiwar voices on the air."

Yes, this is now tied up with racism, too, but the politics are basically the same: nothing left of mainstream Dems ... the CBC PAC, for instance,

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Coleen Garritysays:

March 1, 2016 at 12:07 am

I left cable behind a while back, and I missed Melissa most of all. I am sorry for her mistreatment there, but they have been abrupt with many of their talented folks. I am just hopeful she will wind up on a web channel or on hulu or somewhere 'web accessible'.
But, wherever you may wind up: Go, Melissa! Love your work, love your spirit! Thank You.

(27)(7)

Anita Jordansays:

February 29, 2016 at 11:02 pm

I will miss her show so much. She had a variety of guests and opinions not often seen on TV. She went in-depth into topics on her show, rather than just re-hashing the same info that most other MSNBC do. Her show was unique and will be missed by me for sure. I hope she'll turn up again on TV.

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Joann Smithsays:

February 29, 2016 at 9:15 pm

I loved Melissa because she actually talked about important issues. I am so tired of the MSM election coverage. What is so frightening is that the really important issues like climate change (our no. 1 problem) are being over shadowed by the nonsense of Donald Trump. I've stopped listening to almost all media even NPR and PBS. They are just a waste of time and are all part of the same military-industrial-media complex to keep the American public as ignorant as possible about the corporate take over of our lives and our nation.

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David Andersonsays:

February 29, 2016 at 8:41 pm

All the things MHP did are overshadowed by her apologetics for Obama. She is endorsing a neoliberal president while addressing problems on her show that are caused by neoliberalism! That's not intellectual, that's confused.
And she had a policy of not responding to criticism, not a respectable policy for a celebrity academic.

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Anita Jordansays:

February 29, 2016 at 11:06 pm

I'd like to know what "apologetics" means. I think you meant apologies. I particularly just love your remark that Obama (the "neoliberal") caused the problems Harris-Perry was addressing. Believe me when I say you are quite confused as to who caused the problems. Obama isn't the cause, but it has been typical for 7 years to blame everything on President Obama. It started before he was even inaugurated. If she spoke of the good things he accomplished, more power to her.

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Phil Stokessays:

February 29, 2016 at 7:19 pm

A sad time. Maybe Melissa could do an insider report on the rampant bias that lives within MSNBC. I'd sure love to hear the dirt on Chris Mathews and Rachel.

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Mark Pollocksays:

February 29, 2016 at 11:38 pm

Hear. Hear!

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Francis Louis Szotsays:

March 1, 2016 at 8:45 pm

Me too. THAT would be interesting . . . I think.
Not "dirt", but some insider news to reveal personalities a bit deeper? Nothing mean, but incisive? Good luck to Melissa, and I hope she gets a show again on an even better platform, if she wants it.

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Eric Staplessays:

February 29, 2016 at 6:14 pm

Melissa Harris-Perry added a touch of class to the swill that is cable news. I hope she will find another outlet a bit more conducive to her intelligence!

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Anne Garcia Garlandsays:

February 29, 2016 at 2:40 pm

I thought that MSNBC must be failing badly when I realized that so much of its air time went to prison "reality" shows and like ilk. Guess they just can't afford to have intelligent news commentary. I anticipate the disappearance of the remaining journalists before long.

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Joseph Kleidsays:

February 29, 2016 at 1:51 pm

Let's face it, besides brilliant -she was great to look at!!

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Mary Colbysays:

February 29, 2016 at 1:48 pm

They dismiss a brilliant, outspoken woman, and hire the despicable media guy that lied so much even Rafael Cruz fired him? MSNBC is off my watch list. It's no surprise that most people over 40 support HRC: they get their news from TV. Clearly MSNBC has read the demographic tea leaves and knows the rest of us don't trust corporate media to even give us the right time of day. Hope to be able to follow MHP somewhere else soon.

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Mark Pollocksays:

February 29, 2016 at 1:53 pm

For MSNBC to retain Rick Tyler, the disgraced Cruz spokesperson (please excuse the redundancy), says all one needs to know about what has become of that network. Shameless.

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Christopher Deangelissays:

February 29, 2016 at 1:46 pm

It has been so rare to see a news show that actually spent time diving into non-electoral, participatory politics and brought forth voices of citizens who were not professional pundits. Yes, MHP had those folks on too, but so often they were more thoughtful and nuanced--I was constantly reminded of Jon Stewart's critique of Crossfire and how MHP was often the most productive response to it. Diversity matters. So did the longer 2 hour format that MHP and Up w/ Chris Hayes operated within. It boggles my mind that Melissa's person and editorial acumen would be pulled from her own show because it is campaign season...this was when we needed her thinking most. Sadly Melissa wasn't the first journalist treated shamefully by the network while they tried to broaden dialogue: Phil Donahue, Keith Olbermann, Rula Jebreal, ...

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Bertram Lowisays:

February 29, 2016 at 1:28 pm

While I mostly agree with the other commenters about MHP's contribution to public discourse, I offer as constructive criticism my gradual turnoff to her program as her m.o. became increasingly strident and preachy – even the tenor of her voice seemed to become more shrill. It doesn't surprise me that a lot of MHP fans – even avid ones – tired of coming home from one Sunday sermon and tuning in to another.

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Kent Bottsays:

March 6, 2016 at 9:56 am

You nailed it ... she tripped over her own ego.

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Charles Packsays:

February 29, 2016 at 1:08 pm

She had the most intelligent and fairest talk show on TV.

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Stephen M Lewissays:

February 29, 2016 at 1:05 pm

Never mind whatever hogwash is written in MSNBC's formal mission statement; the operational mission statement is clearly that of small-minded weak-kneed corporate cogs. Their parent network (if an infantile organization can be termed "parent") has long been blind to the distinction between centerist/bluedog Dems and genuine progressives, and the changes at MSNBC show that its Suits intend to extend that witless blindness to what was formerly my 24-hour go-to network.

Leaders and corporate cultures who cannot deal with "challenging" employees are what kills good organizations. Some eventually improve, as was the case with NASA (sort of), and some do not (GM, Chrysler). I suspect that MHP's challenge to MSNBC was her mix of high intelligence, articulate analysis, and...oh yeah...gender.

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David Bremenstuhlsays:

February 29, 2016 at 1:05 pm

The silencing of the voice of Melissa Harris-Perry is a tragedy beyond my words to express !!! Millions have lost a voice of incisive and intuitive intellect who brought issues of substance to light that others ignored and refused to touch !!! Melissa Harris-Perry is a voice of both intellectual honesty and moral conscience in a world of media sorely missing both !!! I have even greater respect and admiration for Melissa Harris-Perry as one of the lone voices of both intellectual and moral authority !!!! Hers is a voice that commands the attention of mind and heart....and Soul !!! Melissa Harris-Perry is one of the very few who has what Gandhi called "satyagraha"; Soul Force !!!

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David Andersonsays:

February 29, 2016 at 8:44 pm

Easy, buddy, this is not a Chicken Little moment!!!!!!!

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Henry Floressays:

February 29, 2016 at 12:51 pm

MHP was the only creative progressive voice on TV and the internet. She spoke to issues that corporate America did not want to talk about and in ways that made them feel uncomfortable. This is really upsetting to me and my family. I'm wasting my time watching MSNBC! Thanks MHP hope you come back in some sort of reincarnation.

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Barbara Kussowsays:

February 29, 2016 at 12:45 pm

I will miss MHP. She was sassy and intelligent. She provided an intelligent discussion of black issues and culture hard to come by elsewhere. (BTW, I am white.)
She was also a good sub for Rachel.

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Mark Pollocksays:

February 29, 2016 at 12:32 pm

It must be emphasized that the Morning Ho's were caught red-mic'd collaborating with Trump, kissing up to him, planning their interview and promising to go soft on him--WITH NO REPERCUSSIONS. No suspension. No public slap on the wrist. Not a word from the suits. And Ms. Harris-Perry is terminated for being an independent, genuine journalist with real courage. Despicable.

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Ron Bernhardtsays:

February 29, 2016 at 12:31 pm

Sad to see MSNBC filtering out show hosts who dare to speak out and allow discussion that doesn't promote the corporate agenda. I miss Ed Schultz as well, but he obviously rattled too many chains and was too truthful. And they get Chuck Todd and Brian Williams. Any surprise that Exxon, GE and other blatant profiteers don't want voices who address issues that explain where our country's rigged system has failed us. The way they have tried to discredit Bernie and pander to Hillary's every whim is discomforting as well. I'm watching less and less of them and they were the last station I could stomach since I lost CURRENT on my Direct TV package.

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Steven B Auerbachsays:

February 29, 2016 at 12:11 pm

Instead of Rachel and Chris leaving, how about Joe and Mika leaving, and MHP cones back! The would be an MSNBC that was actually a progressive alternative to Fox. Oh wait....

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Mark Pollocksays:

February 29, 2016 at 11:50 am

As always, Dave, you nailed it. A terrible, terrible loss for her viewers, for MSNBC, for television, for electronic journalism. Ms. Harris-Perry is not only uncommonly intelligent in a field where that asset is a rare commodity. She is genuine (unlike some of her former colleagues). Most importantly, she is possessed of the virtue that makes all other virtues possible--courage. Ms. Harris-Perry has GUTS! I will miss her. I wish her continued success in all of her ventures. And MSNBC continues its descent. How very, very sad. Thank you, Dave. Keep em' coming. You're great!

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Steven Dorstsays:

February 29, 2016 at 11:45 am

Thanks to MHP for standing up for editorial independence. I with that Chris Hayes and Rachel Maddow would follow her lead.